Sexual Deception Research Articles

The effect of pollen origin (self- and cross-pollination) on seed production and viability in Ophrys (Orchidaceae)

ABSTRACT The pollination biology of the genus Ophrys has been extensively explored, primarily due to their utilisation of sexual deception to attract pollinators. Typically, members of this genus produce a low number of fruits per individual and are considered obligate crossers. However, instances of self-pollination in Ophrys are not uncommon, although the impact of pollen origin on seed production remains understudied. As a predominantly cross-pollinated genus we hypothesise that self-pollination in Ophrys has a negative effect on seed production. The results of the present work will support decision making for the conservation of the genus. We investigate the consequences of self- and cross-pollination on (a) empty seeds produced and (b) viability of sound seeds for three Ophrys species: Ophrys aesculapii, Ophrys ferrum-equinum, and Ophrys kotschyi native to the East Mediterranean region. Bagged individuals of these species were meticulously hand-pollinated with pollen sourced either from their own flowers or from neighbouring individuals. Significant differences were observed across all three species, both in terms of the number of empty seeds and the viability of the produced seeds, with significantly lower viability and higher number of empty seeds in seed collections from self-pollinated individuals. Despite being self-compatible, the three Ophrys species exhibited notable inbreeding depression, as evidenced by the outcomes of this study. Based on our results the implementation of controlled cross hand-pollination in wild population may contribute in the increase of the reproductive success of Ophrys spp. by increasing the quality and quantity of the produced seeds.

Genome of the early spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes provides insights into sexual deception and pollinator adaptation

Pollinator-driven evolution of floral traits is thought to be a major driver of angiosperm speciation and diversification. Ophrys orchids mimic female insects to lure male pollinators into pseudocopulation. This strategy, called sexual deception, is species-specific, thereby providing strong premating reproductive isolation. Identifying the genomic architecture underlying pollinator adaptation and speciation may shed light on the mechanisms of angiosperm diversification. Here, we report the 5.2 Gb chromosome-scale genome sequence of Ophrys sphegodes. We find evidence for transposable element expansion that preceded the radiation of the O. sphegodes group, and for gene duplication having contributed to the evolution of chemical mimicry. We report a highly differentiated genomic candidate region for pollinator-mediated evolution on chromosome 2. The Ophrys genome will prove useful for investigations into the repeated evolution of sexual deception, pollinator adaptation and the genomic architectures that facilitate evolutionary radiations.

SEXUAL DECEPTION USED BY INDIVIDUALS TO INITIATE SEXUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR CURRENT OR POTENTIAL PARTNER

Sexual deception, the deliberate manipulation of information regarding one’s sexual identity, preferences, and intentions, is a complex phenomenon prevalent in intimate relationships. This research aims to delve into the intricate dynamics of sexual deceit, exploring the connection between male and female perspectives in sexual relationships. The study delves into the reasons behind sexual deception, examining why males are perceived as more manipulative compared to females and how gender influences deceptive practices in sexual contexts. The paper posits that individuals utilize deceptive tactics, including sexual deception, to enhance intimacy in relationships, driven by desires for gratification, fear of rejection, and the pursuit of personal goals. Utilizing the Sexual Deception Scale developed by Marelich et al. (2008), the research uncovers insights into the different dimensions of sexual deception, including blatant lying, self-serving tactics, and avoiding confrontation. Physical beauty plays a major role in sexual deception. Lack of sex in life can cause problems like isolation, self- doubt and trust. Through a comprehensive analysis of the scale’s subscales and total scores, the study sheds light on the prevalence of deceptive practices in intimate relationships and the gender disparities in manipulative behaviors.

Osmophore Structure and Labellum Micromorphology in Ophrys speculum (Orchidaceae): New Interpretations of Floral Features and Implications for a Specific Sexually Deceptive Pollination Interaction

Pollination by sexual deception specifically attracts male insects, through the floral scent and particular morphological features of the flower that serve as visual and tactile stimuli. The unique bond between the Ophrys speculum orchid and the male Dasyscolia ciliata wasp primarily stems from a few distinctive semiochemicals that mimic the female wasp’s sex pheromone, although the floral scent comprises a variety of compounds. An osmophore producing highly volatile compounds has been documented in four close relatives of O. speculum and is now being also investigated in this species. Given the existing debates regarding the structure of the labellum and stigmatic cavity in O. speculum, this study details their micromorphology. Additionally, comparisons of O. speculum flowers and female D. ciliata wasps under stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are conducted to seek new evidence of visual and tactile mimicry. The findings confirm that (i) an osmophore is present at the apical margin of the labellum in O. speculum flowers; (ii) the labellum features a distinct basal field homologous to those found in other Ophrys species; and (iii) the basal labellum region closely mimics the female wasp’s thorax and wings. The implications of these novel floral features are discussed within an evolutionary context.

Complex petal spot formation in the Beetle Daisy (Gorteria diffusa) relies on spot-specific accumulation of malonylated anthocyanin regulated by paralogous GdMYBSG6 transcription factors.

Gorteria diffusa has elaborate petal spots that attract pollinators through sexual deception, but how G. diffusa controls spot development is largely unknown. Here, we investigate how pigmentation is regulated during spot formation. We determined the anthocyanin composition of G. diffusa petals and combined gene expression analysis with protein interaction assays to characterise R2R3-MYBs that likely regulate pigment production in G. diffusa petal spots. We found that cyanidin 3-glucoside pigments G. diffusa ray floret petals. Unlike other petal regions, spots contain a high proportion of malonylated anthocyanin. We identified three subgroup 6 R2R3-MYB transcription factors (GdMYBSG6-1,2,3) that likely activate the production of spot pigmentation. These genes are upregulated in developing spots and induce ectopic anthocyanin production upon heterologous expression in tobacco. Interaction assays suggest that these transcription factors regulate genes encoding three anthocyanin synthesis enzymes. We demonstrate that the elaboration of complex spots in G. diffusa begins with the accumulation of malonylated pigments at the base of ray floret petals, positively regulated by three paralogous R2R3-MYB transcription factors. Our results indicate that the functional diversification of these GdMYBSG6s involved changes in the spatial control of their transcription, and modification of the duration of GdMYBSG6 gene expression contributes towards floral variation within the species.

Ecological perspectives on female and male reproductive success with competition in two Serapias species.

The deceptive strategies by which orchids are pollinated and how these are capable of attracting pollinators remain understudied with regard to their implications for plant fitness. Despite their ecological importance, limited investigations have been conducted on sexual deception and shelter mimicry in orchid species, making this a compelling avenue in orchid biology research. To expand the knowledge of these reproductive mechanisms, we studied the pollination of Serapias lingua and S. parviflora in co-occurring and isolated sites in the Balearic Islands (Spain), further accentuated by the presence of a hybrid, indicating shared pollinators. We employed bagging and hand pollination experiments to examine the reproductive biology of the two species. Furthermore, we evaluated the influence of phenotypical and ecological factors on reproductive success, including biometric measurements, reproductive performance and neighbourhood diversity (co-flowering and pollinator communities). Reproductive mechanisms between these two orchid species exhibit substantial disparities. Serapias lingua relies primarily on insect-mediated pollination, while S. parviflora demonstrates self-reproduction capacity. Although events of open pollination are rare, hybridization occurs predominantly when S. lingua is the pollen donor. Fruit set in S. parviflora was positively correlated with plant height, while in S. lingua it was negatively associated with flower size. The coexistence of the two species positively affected pollinium removal in S. parviflora, but did not exert an influence on reproductive traits in S. lingua. Overall, biometric parameters were diminished in isolated compared with co-occurring sites. At the community level, the increased diversity of co-flowering species in the vicinity exhibited an inhibitory effect on pollinium removal in S. parviflora. Under a context of pollinator loss or phenological mismatch between pollinator presence and flowering, the selfing capacity of S. parviflora would guarantee reproduction whereas S. lingua survival would be compromised. Furthers studies are needed to assess the effects of phenotypical and ecological factors on reproductive success of S. lingua in pollinator-decline scenarios.

Sex and Sanctity in the Apocryphal Acts of Andrew : A Christian Bedtrick and Its Biblical Bedrock

Abstract: In the apocryphal Acts of Andrew , a familiar double plot of sex and mistaken identity features Maximilla, a recently converted wife, tricking her pagan husband, Aegeates, into bedding her masked maid in order to retain the purity of her own bed. In resorting to this stratagem of sexual deception, the heroine of this tale behaves in a manner that contemporary Christians would (and did) find scandalous and unacceptable. This article investigates how this unique, sanctified bedtrick mobilizes different traditions (both Greco-Roman and biblical), subverts the predominant model of the Christian wife, and constructs a peculiar, alternative ideal. The Christian bedtrick evokes mythical and novelistic patterns but presents its instigator as paradoxically chaste—the opposite of her depraved analogues in myth and novel. The text also evokes biblical bedtricks, but only to challenge the emphasis on survival through procreation at all cost that underpins most of the bedtricks in Genesis. The article argues, finally, that the bridal switch between Rachel and Leah in Genesis 29 provides the closest biblical parallel for Maximilla's strategy. The striking apocryphal bedtrick also bears intriguing similarities to two texts that clearly hark back to the bridal switch of Genesis 29: an ancient Jewish "novel" (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 12.154–236) and an exegetical vignette from rabbinic midrash ( Lamentations Rabbah proem 24) that employ "holy" bedtricks in the interests of individual or collective salvation.

Sexual attraction with pollination during feeding behaviour: implications for transitions between specialized strategies.

Understanding the origin of pollination by sexual deception has proven challenging, as sexually deceptive flowers are often highly modified, making it hard to resolve how any intermediate forms between sexual deception and an ancestral strategy might have functioned. Here, we report the discovery in Caladenia (Orchidaceae) of sexual attraction with pollination during feeding behaviour, which may offer important clues for understanding shifts in pollination strategy. For Caladenia robinsonii, we observed the behaviour of its male wasp pollinator, Phymatothynnus aff. nitidus (Thynnidae), determined the site of release of the sexual attractant, and experimentally evaluated if the position of the attractant influences rates of attempted copulation and feeding behaviour. We applied GC-MS to test for surface sugar on the labellum. To establish if this pollination strategy is widespread in Caladenia, we conducted similar observations and experiments for four other Caladenia species. In C. robinsonii, long-range sexual attraction of the pollinator is via semiochemicals emitted from the glandular sepal tips. Of the wasps landing on the flower, 57 % attempted copulation with the sepal tips, while 27 % attempted to feed from the base of the labellum, the behaviour associated with pollen transfer. A similar proportion of wasps exhibited feeding behaviour when the site of odour release was manipulated. A comparable pollination strategy occurs in another phylogenetically distinct clade of Caladenia. We document a previously overlooked type of sexual deception for orchids involving long-distance sexual attraction, but with pollination occurring during feeding behaviour at the labellum. We show this type of sexual deception operates in other Caladenia species and predict that it is widespread across the genus. Our findings may offer clues about how an intermediate transitional strategy from a food-rewarding or food-deceptive ancestor operated during the evolution of sexual deception.

Pollination by sexual deception

The flower is arguably the centrepiece of angiosperm evolution. Its primary function is to secure pollination - the transfer of pollen from the anther (male) to the stigma (female). As plants are sessile organisms, the extraordinary diversity of flowers in large part reflects countless alternative evolutionary solutions to achieve this critical step in the flowering plant life cycle. The majority of flowering plants, some 87% by one estimate, depend on animals for pollination, with most of these paying for the service of pollination via food rewards of nectar or pollen. As in human economic systems, however, some cheating and deception occurs, with the pollination strategy of sexual deception being one such example.

Phenotype-fitness relationships and pollen-transfer efficiency of five orchid species with different pollination strategies.

Deceptive pollination, a fascinating mechanism that independently originated in several plant families for benefiting from pollinators without providing any reward, is particularly widespread among orchids. Pollination efficiency is crucial in orchids due to the aggregated pollen in a pollinarium, which facilitates pollen transfer and promotes cross-pollination as pollinators leave after being deceived. In this study, we compiled data on reproductive ecology from five orchid species with different pollination strategies: three deceptive-strategy species (shelter imitation, food deception, sexual deception), one nectar-rewarding species, and one shelter-imitation but spontaneously selfing species. We aimed to compare the reproductive success (female fitness: fruit set; male fitness: pollinarium removal) and pollination efficiency of species representing these strategies. We also investigated pollen limitation and inbreeding depression among the pollination strategies. Male and female fitness were strongly correlated in all species but the spontaneously selfing species, which had high fruit set and low pollinarium removal. As expected, pollination efficiency was highest for the rewarding species and the sexually deceptive species. Rewarding species had no pollen limitation but did have high cumulative inbreeding depression; deceptive species had high pollen limitation and moderate inbreeding depression; and spontaneously selfing species did not have pollen limitation or inbreeding depression. Pollinator response to deception is critical to maintain reproductive success and avoid inbreeding in orchid species with non-rewarding pollination strategies. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the trade-offs associated with different pollination strategies in orchids and highlight the importance of pollination efficiency in orchids due to the pollinarium.

Multiple gene co-options underlie the rapid evolution of sexually deceptive flowers in Gorteria diffusa

Gene co-option, the redeployment of an existing gene in an unrelated developmental context, is an important mechanism underlying the evolution of morphological novelty. In most cases described to date, novel traits emerged by co-option of a single gene or genetic network. Here, we show that the integration of multiple co-opted genetic elements facilitated the rapid evolution of complex petal spots that mimic female bee-fly pollinators in the sexually deceptive South African daisy Gorteria diffusa. First, co-option of iron homeostasis genes altered petal spot pigmentation, producing a color similar to that of female pollinators. Second, co-option of the root hair gene GdEXPA7 enabled the formation of enlarged papillate petal epidermal cells, eliciting copulation responses from male flies. Third, co-option of the miR156-GdSPL1 transcription factor module altered petal spot placement, resulting in better mimicry of female flies resting on the flower. The three genetic elements were likely co-opted sequentially, and strength of sexual deception in different G.diffusa floral forms strongly correlates with the presence of the three corresponding morphological alterations. Our findings suggest that gene co-options can combine in a modular fashion, enabling rapid evolution of novel complex traits.

The effect of global warming on the Australian endemic orchid Cryptostylis leptochila and its pollinator.

Ecological stability together with the suitability of abiotic conditions are crucial for long-term survival of any organism and the maintenance of biodiversity and self-sustainable ecosystems relies on species interactions. By influencing resource availability plants affect the composition of plant communities and ultimately ecosystem functioning. Plant-animal interactions are very complex and include a variety of exploitative and mutualistic relationships. One of the most important mutualistic interactions is that between plants and their pollinators. Coevolution generates clustered links between plants and their pollen vectors, but the pollination and reproductive success of plants is reduced by increase in the specialization of plant-animal interactions. One of the most specialized types of pollination is sexual deception, which occurs almost exclusively in Orchidaceae. In this form of mimicry, male insects are attracted to orchid flowers by chemical compounds that resemble insect female sex pheromones and pollinate the flowers during attempted copulations. These interactions are often species-specific with each species of orchid attracting only males of one or very few closely related species of insects. For sexually deceptive orchids the presence of a particular pollen vector is crucial for reproductive success and any reduction in pollinator availability constitutes a threat to the orchid. Because global warming is rapidly becoming the greatest threat to all organisms by re-shaping the geographical ranges of plants, animals and fungi, this paper focuses on predicting the effect of global warming on Cryptostylis leptochila, a terrestrial endemic in eastern Australia that is pollinated exclusively via pseudo copulation with Lissopimpla excelsa. As a species with a single pollinator this orchid is a perfect model for studies on the effect of global warming on plants and their pollen vectors. According to our predictions, global warming will cause a significant loss of suitable niches for C. leptochila. The potential range of this orchid will be 36%-75% smaller than currently and as a result the Eastern Highlands will become unsuitable for C. leptochila. On the other hand, some new niches will become available for this species in Tasmania. Simultaneously, climate change will result in a substantial expansion of niches suitable for the pollinator (44-82%). Currently ca. 71% of the geographical range of the orchid is also suitable for L. excelsa, therefore, almost 30% of the areas occupied by C. leptochila already lack the pollen vector. The predicted availability of the pollen vector increased under three of the climate change scenarios analysed. The predicted habitat loss is a serious threat to this orchid even with the potential colonization of Tasmania by this plant. In the reduced range of C. leptochila the pollen vector will also be present assuring fruit set in populations of this orchid. The genetic pool of the populations in New South Wales and Queensland will probably be lost.

Sexual deception of maleBradysia(Diptera: Sciaridae) by floral odour and morphological cues inPterostylis(Orchidaceae)

AbstractSexually deceptive orchids exploit the innate sexual preferences of their male insect pollinators to achieve pollen transfer. Although floral volatiles are critical for pollinator attraction in sexually deceptive systems, floral morphology is also expected to exploit the sexual preferences of the pollinator. Here, we investigate the pollination of the Australian orchid Pterostylis cycnocephala. We confirm that male fungus gnats of a single undescribed Bradysia sp. (Diptera, Sciaridae) act as pollinators and display sexual behaviour on flowers, including wing fanning, abdomen curling and genitalic clasping of the prominent labellum appendage. Gnats only triggered the labellum and became trapped in the flower after attempting pseudocopulation with the appendage, a process necessary for pollen removal and deposition. Male gnats located flowers hidden from view, suggesting long-range attraction is primarily due to floral odour. However, male gnats displayed reduced copulatory behaviour when the labellum was absent and when the labellum appendage was inaccessible, suggesting that appropriate morphology may be required to elicit the copulatory behaviour needed for pollination. Our study is the first detailed investigation of sexual deception of male Sciaridae in Australian orchids and represents an example of convergent evolution with some Neotropical Lepanthes orchids, which also sexually deceive male Bradysia.

Arisaema: Pollination by lethal attraction

Female individuals of the genus Arisaema are the only plants known to imprison their pollinators permanently. Their lethal pollination system has long attracted the interest of evolutionary biologists and naturalists. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of how Arisaema plants lure their victims to the brink of death are only just being unveiled. Here, I briefly review the unique reproductive biology of these plants, focusing on the possibility of sexual deception to lure pollinating victims, and its role in the evolution of new species.

Drakolide Structure-activity Relationships for Sexual Attraction of Zeleboria Wasp Pollinator.

Orchids pollinated by sexual deception lure their specific male pollinators by sex pheromone mimicry. Despite the growing list of chemically diverse semiochemicals known to be involved, the chemical basis and flexibility of this extreme pollinator specificity are not fully understood. One promising but rarely applied tool is the synthesis and field testing of chemically related variants for investigating the structural specificity of the pheromone mimics. Here, we build on the discovery of the unusual semiochemical blend used by Drakaea micrantha to sexually lure its male Zeleboria thynnine wasp pollinator. This blend consists of a β-ketolactone (drakolide) and two specific hydroxymethylpyrazines, presumably drawn from two distinct biosynthetic pathways. Here, we synthesized and tested the activity of various stereo- and structural isomers of the naturally occurring drakolide. Our study confirmed that in blends with the two pyrazines, both a mixture of stereoisomers, and the specific stereoisomer of the natural drakolide, elicit high rates of landings and attempted copulations. However, in the absence of pyrazines, both the number of responses and the level of sexual attraction were significantly reduced. When structural analogs were substituted for the natural drakolide, attractiveness and degree of sexual behaviour varied but were generally reduced. Based on our findings, and prior knowledge that related hydroxymethylpyrazines are active in other Drakaea spp., we conclude that the dual sex pheromone mimicry of D. micrantha likely evolved via initial changes in just one of the two biosynthetic pathways. Most plausibly, this involved modifications in the drakolides, with the pyrazines as a 'pre-adaption' enhancing the sexual response.

Three Chemically Distinct Floral Ecotypes in Drakaea livida, an Orchid Pollinated by Sexual Deception of Thynnine Wasps.

Sexually deceptive orchids are unusual among plants in that closely related species typically attract different pollinator species using contrasting blends of floral volatiles. Therefore, intraspecific variation in pollinator attraction may also be underpinned by differences in floral volatiles. Here, we tested for the presence of floral ecotypes in the sexually deceptive orchid Drakaea livida and investigated if the geographic range of floral ecotypes corresponded to variation in pollinator availability. Pollinator choice trials revealed the presence of three floral ecotypes within D. livida that each attracts a different species of thynnine wasp as a pollinator. Surveys of pollinator distribution revealed that the distribution of one of the ecotypes was strongly correlated with that of its pollinator, while another pollinator species was present throughout the range of all three ecotypes, demonstrating that pollinator availability does not always correlate with ecotype distribution. Floral ecotypes differed in chemical volatile composition, with a high degree of separation evident in principal coordinate analysis. Some compounds that differed between ecotypes, including pyrazines and (methylthio)phenols, are known to be electrophysiologically active in thynnine wasp antennae. Based on differences in pollinator response and floral volatile profile, the ecotypes represent distinct entities and should be treated as such in conservation management.

Blatant sexual deception: Content, individual differences, and implications

Given current cultural attention to issues surrounding sexual consent, the issue of sexual deception is pertinent. The current study examined rates of different forms of blatant sexual deception (i.e., intentionally misleading sexual partners) with a focus on individual predictors including demographic correlates and traits of narcissism and sexual compulsivity. We sought to extend existing literature on sexual deception by examining novel forms of deception in a gender- and sexual orientation- diverse sample. Participants (N = 1769) aged 16 to 81 years (M = 26.60) took part in an online study. Results showed no gender differences in overall rates of deception, though men were more deceptive regarding wealth and resources, occupation, and physical characteristics than women. Sexual minorities reported higher rates of sexual deception than heterosexual participants pertaining to sexual orientation and previous partner gender. Participant scores on sexual narcissism and sexual compulsivity were significantly correlated with sexual deception scores. Findings are discussed in relation to how sexual deception can be understood and potentially intervened upon within current cultures of consent.

Pollination by nectar-foraging pompilid wasps: a new specialized pollination strategy for the Australian flora.

The Pompilidae is a cosmopolitan and diverse group of wasps, which commonly feed on nectar. However, pollination systems specialized on pompilids have not been documented in detail outside of southern Africa. Here, we studied Caladenia drummondii (Orchidaceae) where, based on floral traits and preliminary field observations, we predicted pollination by sexual deception of male pompilid wasps. Detailed pollinator observations were undertaken using floral baiting experiments at sites spanning 375km. Following evidence for nectar on some flowers of C. drummondii, the sugar content on the labellum was analysed by GC-MS. Floral spectral reflectance was measured and compared with Caladenia using other pollination strategies. Males of a single species of pompilid wasp (Calopompilus sp.) were the only visitors capable of pollinating C. drummondii. Attempts to feed from the surface of the labellum were frequent and were associated with removal and deposition of pollinia. GC-MS analysis revealed larger quantities of sugar on the labellum than reported in other Caladenia species. While no sexual or courtship behaviour was observed, the zig-zag and circling flight on approach to the flower is suggestive of odour-based attraction. Floral spectral reflectance was similar to sexually deceptive Caladenia. This study represents the first confirmation of a specialized pompilid pollination system outside of Africa. Although pollination occurs during nectar-foraging, long-distance sexual attraction cannot be ruled out as an explanation for the exclusive male visitation. The similarity in floral spectral reflectance to other Caladenia indicates colour may not impose a constraint on the evolution of pollination by pompilids.

Flowers of Deceptive Aristolochia microstoma Are Pollinated by Phorid Flies and Emit Volatiles Known From Invertebrate Carrion

Deceptive flowers decoy pollinators by advertising a reward, which finally is not provided. Numerous deceptive plants are pollinated by Diptera, but the attractive cues and deceptive strategies are only identified in a few cases. A typical fly-deceptive plant genus is Aristolochia, which evolved sophisticated trap flowers to temporarily capture pollinators. Though rarely demonstrated by experimental approaches, Aristolochia species are believed to chemically mimic brood sites, food sources for adult flies, or utilize sexual deception. Indeed, for most species, studies on scent composition and attractive signals are lacking. In this study, we focused on Aristolochia microstoma, a peculiar Greek endemic with flowers that are presented at ground level in the leaf litter or between rocks and are characterized by a unique morphology. We analyzed flower visitor and pollinator spectra and identified the floral scent composition using dynamic headspace and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Female and male phorid flies (Phoridae) are the exclusive pollinators, although the flowers are also frequently visited by Sciaridae, as well as typical ground-dwelling arthropods, such as Collembola and arachnids. The carrion-like floral scent mainly consists of the oligosulphide dimethyldisulfide and the nitrogen-bearing compound 2,5-dimethylpyrazine. These compounds together are known to be released from decomposing insects, and thus, we conclude that pollinators are likely deceived by chemical imitation of invertebrate carrion, a deceptive strategy not described from another plant species so far.

Sexual coercion perpetration and victimisation in females: The influence of borderline and histrionic personality traits, rejection sensitivity, and love styles

ABSTRACT This study investigated sexual coercion (perpetration and victimisation) in women. Women (N = 151) aged 18–63 years (M = 23.34, SD = 8.80) completed standardised questionnaires measuring sexual coercion (nonverbal sexual arousal, emotional manipulation and deception, and exploitation of the intoxicated), personality disorder traits (Borderline and Histrionic), love styles (Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, and Agape), and rejection sensitivity. Data analyses revealed that together, personality disorder traits, love styles, and rejection sensitivity predicted coercion perpetration involving emotional manipulation and deception. These variables also predicted victimisation involving nonverbal sexual arousal and emotional manipulation and deception. Of these predictors, borderline traits predicted coercion involving emotional manipulation and deception (as both a perpetrator and victim) and victimisation from nonverbal sexual arousal-based coercion. Furthermore, Ludus predicted victimisation involving emotional manipulation and deception, while rejection sensitivity predicted the use of emotional manipulation and deception to coerce a partner.